American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Washington, DC.

This policy statement, issued by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities in pamphlet form, and approved by the membership, addresses the importance of urban colleges and universities for urban populations, and in particular, for minorities. A first section, on educating urban students, stresses that while seeking academic rigor as a first priority, the urban institution must also seek diversity among its faculty and high levels of access for students. The importance of urban studies including urban life, public administration, social welfare, the arts, city planning, and other related disciplines for the development of public policy is next addressed, followed by a section on school-college collaboration that points out the unique relationship that urban institutions can establish with the public elementary, middle and high schools within their communities. As a consequence, many school-college collaborations can be implemented. Finally, as urban institutions are partners in the economic, cultural and social lives of the cities, the importance of their public-service function is stressed. (JB)